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Pregnant Women Should Have Blood Pressure Screening for Preeclampsia Throughout Pregnancy

Dr. Maureen Phipps, USPTS Task Force member
Department chair and Chace-Joukowsky professor of obstetrics and gynecology
Assistant dean for teaching and research on women’s health
Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Response: Preeclampsia, which includes high blood pressure after 20 weeks of pregnancy, is one of the most serious health problems affecting pregnant women. After reviewing the evidence, the Task Force found the benefits of screening for preeclampsia outweighed the harms and recommended screening pregnant women for preeclampsia with blood pressure measurements throughout pregnancy. The evidence showed mothers and their babies are likely to benefit from screening, as screening leads to treatment that reduces their risk of severe complications, including death.

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Response: Pregnant women should be screened for preeclampsia with blood pressure measurements throughout their pregnancy.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Response: There are several important areas for research that could help clinicians and their patients better understand subtypes of preeclampsia and the risks to a mother and her baby’s health. Once preeclampsia is more clearly defined, screening tools targeting various subtypes and different study populations may be necessary. Additionally, studies are needed to further develop and validate rigorous assessment tools to identify who is at greatest risk for developing preeclampsia.

MedicalResearch.com: Is there anything else you would like to add?

Response: In 2014, the Task Force released a final recommendation on using low-dose aspirin to prevent preeclampsia. We still recommend that women who are at high risk for preeclampsia take low-dose aspirin as preventive medication after 12 weeks of pregnancy.

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